Geraldo Rivera rivals Rosie at times! Rivera and Bill O'Reilly went at it last night on O'Reilly's show. The debate: Whether drunken illegal aliens are a problem. Rivera thinks they are not, at least not because they are illegal.

On the heals of a double murder by a drunk illegal alien, Rivera wants us to believe that deporting this particular drunk illegal wouldn't have mattered. These poor illegals come here to work, support their families... He actually said we have lured them here. (This is like saying people with nice houses lure criminals or people with nice cars deserve to have them stolen.) According to Rivera, deportation is just the wrong solution. Drunk drivers are the problem and they should be punished. Rivera urged O'Reilly to be fair.

Yes it is true that all drunks should be heavily punished. We know that many who drink and drive will be repeat offenders. Sadly, our justice system routinely fails to punish drunks. If our government wanted to make a dent in this problem, legislatures could pass laws requiring the police confiscate cars on the first offense, no exceptions. (I don't care if the drunk won't have a way to get to work. I don't care if someone loaned a car to a drunk. I really don't.) There are countless tools not being used to deter drunks and we should throw every strategy available at these people. Ultimately, jail should become home to those who repeat after punishment.

The truth is we are stuck with the citizen drunks. Illegal alien drunks, on the other hand, can be deported. Legal immigrants not yet naturalized can also have their permission to be here revoked. Any person who is not a citizen of the United States should be on notice that any law breaking behavior can result in deportation. Why do we even need to discuss this like there is a question about it?

We have not "lured" illegals here, thereby forever giving up our right to control our country's borders. When an illegal pointedly breaks the law, there should be a consequence. Geraldo is nuts if he thinks we have given up our right as a country to deport people who break the law.

If the drunken illegal would have been deported after his first offense, or his second offense, two young girls would still be alive today. Parents would still have dreams of high school and college graduations, of weddings and of grandchildren. Instead they will have the face of this pathetic man forever etched in their memories.

The United States must come up with a plan to deal with illegals. Maybe the new policy should be: Every time an illegal alien who actually has a real job is deported, a person waiting in line is allowed in through legal channels. Their entry would be based on a willingness to accept the job left open by the illegal. (I would bet good money that many who want to come to America would agree to take ANY job offered if it got them in the door.) This would solve both problems- get rid of those who disregard our laws and increase immigration to necessary levels by rewarding the law-abiders who have followed the rules. Policymakers can come up with rules about how long a person must work at a job to ensure the workplace is secure. (I am available to help them if they would like.)

Millions around the world wait patiently in line for their turn to come. There is nothing fair about illegals jumping the line ahead of those who follow the rules. It is indisputable: a disproportionate number of illegal immigrants are Hispanic. We therefore have a problem with Hispanic people that is more pressing than addressing the European illegal aliens who may be sneaking into our country. (I am in support of an equal opportunity deportation solution and would expel every illegal discovered under any circumstance.) (And I would give every illegal alien apprehended a lifetime ban.)

Geraldo: All illegal aliens are a problem. Drunk illegals are just a bigger problem.